MARCH 2016 ISSUE Lent Out Loud March 6 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 March 13 John 12:1-8 March 20 Luke 22:14—23:56 March 27 John 12:1-18 IN THIS ISSUE Page 2 Pastor Mike’s Article Page 3-9 What’s Happening at Immanuel Page 10 Youth Page 12 Celebrations & Prayers Page 13 Giving Back Page 14 Worship Leaders Page 15 Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season when God calls you to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection. The imposition of ashes sets the tone for Lent. Your ashes are a striking reminder that “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19b). But the cross, a symbol of Jesus’ crucifixion, offers hope. In baptism, you received the sign of the cross on your forehead and were called “to live among God’s faithful people, hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth” (ELW 236). Lent is a continued journey toward the baptismal waters of Easter. Fasting, prayer and almsgiving are the traditional disciplines of Lent. When you put your faith into action, Jesus asks you to keep it quiet. Fasting? Don’t complain, but put on a happy face. More prayer? Yes, please, but shut the door so no one sees you at it. Almsgiving? By all means, just don’t let anybody know (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21). Jesus’ admonition to act out piety in secret helps reinforce the belief that acts of faith belong in private life. Living our faith gets defined as a personal matter, where a public faith may be denounced as going against Jesus’ own instructions. This can make Lutherans reticent to speak their faith in public. It dampens efforts to offer public testimony to the sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ and by witness to Christ through advocacy that lifts up a faithful voice for other’s needs. Maybe Jesus is warning against being spiritual show-offs. God sees the best and the worst that we have to offer and still showers us with grace and mercy. God knows our secrets, but calls us and promises to give us the words when we need them. Martin Luther famously said, “God doesn’t want our good works. But our neighbor does.” He didn’t keep silent in the face of injustice but wrote hundreds of letters advocating for compassionate policies and structural change. He taught that faith is not a secret but a mystery about a God who sees, loves, forgives, heals our sin sick souls, and as a consequence, we are called to do the same. Of course, inner disciplines nurture and ground our outward witness. We need both. But if Lent, asks us to tend to and focus on our own sin, confession and renewal, could it become a time for nurturing the same practices in public? Calendar What if this Lent we fasted from inwardly focused piety to outwardly motivated action, from prayer in private to public lament and truth-telling, from almsgiving that that goes beyond Page 16 charity to raising of voices and action for greater justice? How about living Lent out loud this Suggested Readings year? http://blogs.elca.org/advocacy/lent-reflection 1 Living in Christ. Loving God’s people. Teaching the Word. Reaching the world. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This month we continue looking at people of faith. Specifically Lutherans that may not be well known, but have used their gifts from God to serve the church and the world. In this season of Lent we have an interesting man that is celebrated on March 29th. This man is Hans Nielsen Hauge. During his life in Norway many folks had faith that was growing cold. Hauge did much work as an itinerant lay preacher to call folks back to living the faith in their daily lives. His movement called folks to individual piety not just corporate worship. His influence can be seen across Lutheran denominations today. Hauge’s call to repent and to take serious our own spiritual disciplines is a good example all year, but especially in Lent. Below is a brief biography from the Hauge Institute: Hans Nielsen Hauge (born 1771) lived and worked two hundred years ago. Following a sincere and deep longing for God throughout his youth, he had a powerful spiritual experience in 1796. He was 25 years old at the time. He received a calling from God to preach His word to the people and admonish them to repent. Following this, he started travelling throughout the country while combining his spiritual and physical work. While he preached he was an active businessman, a pioneer who started up some 30 businesses all over the country over a four year period. During this whole time, he combined his calling to preach with his other activities. Finally he was arrested in 1804 for a breach of the "Konventikkelplakaten", the Konventikkel Ordinance, a law which denied lay people the right to preach. He was imprisoned for five years before the prosecution and for another four years before the hearing. In 1814 he was finally found guilty and ordered to pay 2000 riksdaler, a fine he paid with the help of gifts from friends and family. His health was poor following the years of imprisonment, so he discontinued his travelling. He worked on his own estate in Christiania (Oslo) instead, still keeping up his business at the same time. This he did until his death in 1824. No other person in the history of Norway has so dominated his own time and influenced the time following his death as Hauge. His combination of a Christian life, preaching and business activity contributed to the legalization of the market as an institution, for Christians too, while it was given a clear social function. This was unique at that time. Hauge also formed a new religious philosophy, from the group to the individual: individuals were no longer only a part of a social group, but individuals with a responsibility for their own lives in keeping with what they learned. This contributed to a spiritual and mental liberation all over the country, and along with other social currents, Haugianism was a contributing factor to Norway's receiving its own constitution and becoming independent in 1814. http://haugeinstitute.org/119/about-hans-nielsen-hauge In Christ, Pr. Michael Neel 2 ALTAR GUILD The Altar Guild is selling Easter lilies. Orders are due by March 6. Be sure to check out the Easter cards and napkins for sale in the hall. The altar committee for March is Lea & Jane. Altar Guild will meet March 7th at 6:30 p.m. and we will be doing spring cleaning. If anyone is interested in joining, come to the meeting or call contact Phyllis Corrigan at 815-474-3480. RUTH CIRCLE Ruth Circle will meet on Tuesday afternoon, March 8th at 1:30 p.m. This month's lesson is titled "Being of One Mind." We will delve into what it means to share in the work of the gospel, care about others’ interests, and live out our "heavenly" citizenship on earth. Bible study leader is Annette Hart and hostess is Shirley Myre. All ladies are invited to join us. BUSY HANDS We will be getting together on March 9th and the 23rd at 9:00 AM. If you are interested in serving in this group, please contact Linda Stephens at (630) 553-1854. The ladies have also made beautiful prayer shawls. If you know of someone who could use a prayer shawl, please take one. Reminder: There are some nice Easter cards and napkins for sale by the Altar Guild in the hallway. Confirmation cards are in the card rack if needed as well. Thank you and have a blessed Easter. SERVANT HEARTS CIRCLE We will be meeting on March 17th at 6:30 p.m. For more information about Servant Hearts Circle, contact Lesli Ambrose. The Salvation Army thanks us for volunteering on December 5, 2015 for the entire day and ringing the bell during the 2015 Red Kettle Campaign. Our efforts collected $1,266.76! 3 MIDWEEK LENT SERVICES March 2nd: 6:00 PM | Soup Supper (Last Name H-L provides meal) 6:30 PM | Lent Midweek service March 9th: 6:00 PM | Soup Supper (Last Name A-B provides meal) 6:30 PM | Lent Midweek service March 16th: 6:00 PM | Soup Supper (Last Name M-R provides meal) 6:30 PM | Lent Midweek service HOLY WEEK AND EASTER March 20th: 10:30 am | Palm Sunday Service with meal, egg hunt & games March 24th: 7:00 PM | Maundy Thursday Service with Communion March 25th: 7:00 PM | Good Friday Service March 27th: 6:30 AM | Easter Sunday Sunrise Service 9:30 AM | Second Easter service Breakfast served between services on Easter Sunday. 4 5 150th Things to Think About To celebrate our church’s anniversary each month, we are asking various questions about our church. There is a box on the shelf in the back of the church for submitted answers. Please include the question number and your name along with your answer. Answers are due by the 3rd Sunday of the month. There will be a drawing for prizes for correct answers. Answers will follow in the next month’s newsletter. March’s Questions: 1. Where did the parsonage family live immediately prior to the construction of the present parsonage? 2. From whom was the parcel of land purchased that Immanuel presently owns? 3. Which member was killed in action during World War II? His body is buried in Europe. Answers to February’s Questions: 1. Name the two men who were ordained into the Holy Ministry during services held at Immanuel Lutheran before Stephen Gjerde. Pastor Alvin Miller, grandson of Pastor Eugene Ahl, studied at Concordia Seminary (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod). He requested membership in the ALC in order to be ordained in the very church served at one time by his grandfather. He began his active ministry in Canada. Pastor Don Merkel, a native son, studied in the ALC Seminary. He was ordained at Immanuel and started his active ministry in the Dakotas, then became a Chaplain in Iowa City, Iowa. 2. In what year was the individual communion service dedicated and first put into use? The individual communion service was first used on Maundy Thursday, April 14, 1960. 3. The coat and hat racks (before our new addition) were placed in the church by what organization and in what year? The Brotherhood placed the coat & hat racks in church in 1950. Congratulations to Alice Merkel for winning January's drawing. SESQUINCENTENNIAL COMMITTEE If you’re interested in helping plan activities to celebrate Immanuel’s 150th anniversary, contact Craig Borneman. 6 The church and 150th anniversary committee would like to create a new church directory. This one will feature one family per page. When new members join, we can create a new page and insert into our existing book. Please feel free to share the information you would like to share with the congregation. We need each family’s information and a photo of each family. We would prefer it if you could email your information and picture to the church at [email protected] If you cannot email this information please turn in information to the church office or Laura Devick. There will be dates set up to take an informal picture of your family at church if you need one. Thank you. Names:_________________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________ Phone Number:___________________________________________________________ Birthdays:_______________________________________________________________ Anniversary:_____________________________________________________________ Email:__________________________________________________________________ Occupation:______________________________________________________________ Activities at church:_______________________________________________________ Interests:________________________________________________________________ 7 Annual Meeting Highlights President’s Comments: Before introducing the Pastor’s Report, President Scott Davis thanked the congregation for their support throughout his first year. Scott is looking forward to the exciting things to come in 2016. Pastor’s Report: Pastor Michael Neel reviewed and discussed the Pastor’s Report. Pastor stated the Pastor’s Report is a yearly review, discussing worship, visitation, Luther League, Confirmation, and various ministries. He is very thankful for the work that is being done and looking ahead to build on this healthy foundation in 2016. Scott Davis thanked Pastor Neel for all the things he has done to make this a great year. Secretary’s Report: The Secretary’s Report from October 25, 2015 Quarterly Meeting was approved. Treasurer’s Report: Joseph Berthold discussed and reviewed the Treasurer’s 2015 Report. Joseph informed the congregation that no monies from the Miracle Sunday fund were used in 2015. Joseph welcomed questions from the floor. Scott Davis thanked Joseph for his work on the budget this year. Total Income To Date: $174,178.90 Total Expenses To Date: $177,086.34 Net Income: ($2,907.44) Financial Secretary’s Report: Linda Stephens reported the Annual Giving Statements have been mailed via USPS to members. Unfinished Business: Pastor Neel discussed the Satellite Church. Pastor explained this concept as reaching out to people to spread the Gospel and this Church Satellite would be an integrated part of the church and not a separate entity. He assured the congregation that will not take away from this church or his time. Pastor fielded questions from the congregation. Discussion followed. Ballots were distributed to vote on this issue. Results: 39 yes votes to approve the Satellite Church, 16 no votes. Nominating Committee: A Nominating Committee will be formed in April 2016. Northern Illinois Synod Assembly: Pastor Neel stated that we need two delegates to attend the Northern Illinois Synod Assembly scheduled for June 17-18, 2016. It will be held at Augustana College in Rock Island. Inform Pastor if you are interested in attending this event. Budget: President Scott Davis reviewed and discussed Immanuel’s Budget for fiscal year 2016. He discussed the increase in the budget for natural gas and the boiler fund. Scott also added an increase in the budget for Pastoral Services. Scott stated that Pastor’s salary was not and is still not in line with the Synod guidelines, but we are working on getting that closer. 2016 budget was approved. 150th Anniversary: Pastor Neel discussed the 150th Celebration taking place on Sunday, April 24,2016. There will be one service at 10:30 with a meal and fellowship following. Bishop Gary Wollersheim will be attending. President Scott Davis fielded questions from the congregation. It was brought to his attention that it was hard to understand and hear the children at the Children’s Christmas Program. Scott stated the sound system will be checked to correct this issue. 8 Immanuel’s Blood Drive Immanuel’s next blood drive will be on March 8th, 2016 from 4 to 7 pm. It’s not too late to sign up as long as you have refrained from donating since December 10, 2015. This event is not limited only to Immanuel families. Spread the word to friends and family and sign up today! Contact the office at 630-553-5368 or Linda Stephens at 630-553-1854 for more information. When: March 12, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. Where: Whitetail Ridge Cost: $12.00 per person Sign up today If you have any questions ask Lesli Ambrose or Bev Borneman 9 Luther League The Luther League is busy preparing our annual Ice Cream Social. Come join us on Palm Sunday right after the service. We will be serving sloppy joes, hotdogs, chips, applesauce, and ice cream. We will also be having our fun Easter Egg hunt for all kids in 6th grade and below. Since there are so many people that attend the social and space has been tight in past years. The cake walk will be replaced with a cake auction. We hope this is a big hit! Half of the profits from this event will be going to a wonderful Lutheran Ministry called LCC K9 Comfort Dogs. Last month we met two great dogs, Shiloh and Samuel. They come to Kendall County to help anyone that needs a little extra comfort. Please come out and help us raise some money for these two dogs. "Comfort, Comfort, my people, says your God." Isaiah 40:1 Sunday School We have an opportunity to evaluate a new curriculum on March 6th during our Sunday school session. If approved, we would begin using it in the 2016-2017 school year. We hope all the students can come on Sunday March 6 to try it out and give us their input. Thank you to all the teachers for learning the new curriculum and giving your input also. There will be no Sunday School on Palm Sunday (there is also one service-10:30 am). Also there will be no Sunday School on Easter Sunday. Vacation Bible School Vacation Bible School is right around the corner. We are in need of many volunteers to help it be a success. VBS will be June 20 - June 24 from 9 am to 12 noon. We are looking for any 7th grader or older to help. You can volunteer for one day or all five. Please let Pastor Mike or Laura Devick know if you are available. CONFIRMATION ANNOUNCEMENT Confirmation will meet Wednesdays on March 2nd, 9th, and16th. We will be working on the Apostles Creed. No class March 23rd and March 30th. Confirmations students are expected to attend Maundy Thursday (March 24) and Good Friday worship (March 25) both at 7 pm. They are expected to attend midweek Lenten worship services. 10 Coming soon... Immanuel’s Second Annual Kite Day When: April 16, 2016 Where: Immanuel Lutheran 10104 Immanuel Road Yorkville, IL 11 CELEBRATIONS March Birthdays Mar. 1 Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. 3 5 6 7 Mar. 8 Mar. 10 Mar. 12 Mar. 13 Mar. 15 Mar. 16 Luke Gilbertson Dhane Hardecopf Brian Joseph Hannah Leonetti Sandy Stone Bruce Sampson Betty Hardecopf* Christian Polizzi Rachel Davis Mylan Brower Gena Gerdin Mady Bergeson Delaney Rae Gauer Sharon Johnson MaryAnn Gorham Heidi Dockstader Travis Bateman Jim Follmer* Mar. 18 Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. 18 19 22 23 Mar. 24 Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. 25 26 27 28 Mar. 29 *80 years and older Ronnie Bretthauer Clint Corrigan Roger Olson Terry Sampson Samantha Cotton Allison Bloom Craig Cunningham Nicholas Karales Gary Bretthauer Jeremy Gauer Melanie Karales Kathi Dockstader Chris Morgart Craig Riemenschneider Ryan Bateman Dawne Bloom Rebecca Hughes Greg Molitor Celebrate your birthday March 6 March 16 March 25 Rick & Dione Woodward Chris & Kim Morgart LaVerne & Billie Poppen Bill Sr. & JoAnne Behrens** with others! Bring a cake mix and icing for the Kendall County Food Pantry! **50 years and over Pray for: Pray for the safety of all of those who serve their country. Betty Larson, Keith Collman, Ken Walker, Julie Bona, Peter Molitor, Lynn Molitor, Brittany Strause, Antoinette Julian, Bonnie Mott, Sonja Gilbertson, Pray for all of those things that we may not be able to give words Elise LoDolce, Dick Nenne, Ronnie Bretthauer, to, but lay heavy on our hearts. Mary Ann Gorham, Millie Tripp Follmer, Glenn Sing, Russell Hughes and Dorothy Browning. DID YOU KNOW? Our newsletter can be downloaded from our web site at: http://www.immanuelyorkville.org/Newsletters.html Newsletter submissions are always welcome! 12 Please submit all items by the 20th of each month to: [email protected] GIVING BACK IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH YEAR-TO-DATE FINANCIAL REPORT Do you have a couple of hours to spare on March 3rd, 17th and the 31st to help those in need? If so, sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board and join Pastor Mike and others as they serve at Hesed House’s Clothes Closet from 4:30pm–7:00pm. This ministry provides those less fortunate with necessary clothing items. As always, Hesed House will also receive any clothing donations you may have. — January 1–February 25, 2016 INCOME Operating Fund Income $17,760.00 TOTAL INCOME $17,760.00 Collections for the Kendall County Food Pantry will be accepted until the last week of the month. The pantry accepts all donations of food and necessities —personal products are always a critical need. Grab an “Inasmuch” bag from the back table and fill it with personal products and return it to the table. EXPENSES Benevolence Resolutions $536.00 Church Administration $1,463.66 Christian Education $83.13 Parsonage Expenses $150.00 Pastoral Services $10,750.35 Property Insurance & Taxes $992.50 Repairs & Maintenance $902.00 Utilities TOTAL EXPENSES We are on our way to earning a check from Goodsearch! The more people that use Goodsearch.com to search the web with Immanuel selected as their cause, the bigger our check will be! Immanuel also earns a percentage from online purchases made via Goodshop. Make the switch and help us grow our check. TITHES AND OFFERINGS MADE EASY $3,678.05 $18,555.69 NET OPERATING INCOME $ (795.69) NET INCOME $ (795.69) You can now access the online giving page for Immanuel Lutheran Church by scanning the QR code above. Simply scan the QR code with your smart phone (a code reader app is required), and your browser will take you to the online giving area. The online giving page allows you to regularly tithe or make a one-time offering for the operating fund, memorial fund, Sunday school fund, flowers for the altar, missions, and the building fund. OUR STAFF PASTOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT MUSIC DIRECTOR MICHAEL NEEL KATHERINE BRUCK KELSEY DESCHEPPER PHONE: (630) 553-5368 PHONE: (630) 553-5368 PHONE: (815) 761-0927 (585) 472-0470 [Emergency] EMAIL: [email protected] EMAIL: [email protected] 13 14 Brian Anderson Wendy Drane Jim Follmer Calvin Wallis Calvin & Jane Wallis Neil & Bev Borneman Brian Anderson Wendy Drane Jim Follmer Calvin Wallis Calvin & Jane Wallis Neil & Bev Borneman ALTAR GUILD Lea & Jane Lea & Jane Erika Pokorski Erika Pokorski 10:30 10:30 Siiri Strebel Bea Strebel 9:00 ACOLYTES ASSISTING MINISTER Trey Ambrose John Anderson 11:30 10:30 9:00 Jane Wallis Jennie Mulvey 10:30 Lea & Jane Erika Pokorski Melanie Karales Neil & Bev Borneman Calvin & Jane Wallis Calvin Wallis Jim Follmer Arissa Wallis Janet Bretthauer Lesli Ambrose 9:00 Lea & Jane Erika Pokorski Elizabeth Karales Neil & Bev Borneman Calvin & Jane Wallis Calvin Wallis Jim Follmer Wendy Drane Brian Anderson Laura Devick Gena Gerdin Glenn & Beryl Borneman Brad & Erika Pokorski Jennie Mulvey & JoAnne Riemenschneider Beth & Judy Hage 10:30 MARCH 27-Easter 6:30/9:00 Chris & Kim Morgart MARCH 20-10:30 only Greg & Lynn Molitor MARCH 13 Stan & Janet Bretthauer MARCH 6 9:00 TIME COUNTERS USHERS READERS GREETERS ROLE March WORSHIP LEADERS 15 SUGGESTED READINGS FOR MARCH Mar 1 Psalm 39; Ezekiel 17:1-10; Romans 2:12-16 Mar 2 Psalm 39; Numbers 13:17-27; Luke 13:18-21 Mar 3 Psalm 32; Joshua 4:1-13, 2 Corinthians 4:16—5:5 Mar 4 Psalm 32; Joshua 4:14-24; 2 Corinthians 5:6-15 Mar 5 Psalm 32; Exodus 32:7-14; Luke 15:1-10 Mar 6 Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Mar 7 Psalm 53; Leviticus 23:26-41; Revelation 19:1-8 Mar 8 Psalm 53; Leviticus 25:1-19; Revelation 19:9-10 Mar 9 Psalm 53; 2 Kings 4:1-7; Luke 9:10-17 Mar 10 Psalm 126; Isaiah 43:1-7; Philippians 2:19-24 Mar 11 Psalm 126; Isaiah 43:8-15; Philippians 2:25—3:1 Mar 12 Psalm 126; Exodus 12:21-27; John 11:45-57 Mar 13 Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8 Mar 14 Psalm 20; Exodus 40:1-15; Hebrews 10:19-25 Mar 15 Psalm 20; Judges 9:7-15; 1 John 2:18-28 Mar 16 Psalm 20; Habakkuk 3:2-15; Luke 18:31-34 Mar 17 Psalm 31:9-16; Isaiah 53:10-12; Hebrews 2:1-9 Mar 18 Psalm 31:9-16; Isaiah 54:9-10; Hebrews 2:10-18 Mar 19 Psalm 31:9-16; Leviticus 23:1-8; Luke 22:1-13 Mar 20 Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:14—23:56 or Luke 23:1-49 Mar 21 Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11 Mar 24 Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Mar 25 Isaiah 52:13—53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4: 14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1—19:42 Mar 26 Romans 6:3-11; John 20:1-8; Psalm 114; Luke 24:1-12 Mar 27 Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20: 1-18 or Luke 24:1-12 Mar 28 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Joshua 10: 16-27; 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 Mar 29 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Judges 4:17-23; 5:24-31a; Revelation 12:1-12 Mar 30 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 2 Samuel 6:1-15; Luke 24:1-12 Mar 31 Psalm 150; 1 Samuel 17:1-23; Acts 5:12-16 Mar 22 Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36 Reprinted from Sundays and Seasons.com, copyright 2006 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress. License #26639. Mar 23 Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32 Tech Times Issue 00 Month Year www.immanuelyorkville.org 16
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